REYKJAVIK, Iceland — A 4.1 magnitude quake has struck in Iceland Tuesday night near a rare Icelandic volcano that started erupting on March 19.
The volcano in the Fagradalsfjall mountains is about 20 miles from Iceland's capital Reykjavik.
The long-dormant volcano is the area's first eruption in nearly 800 years.
There does not appear to be any damage from the quake, and scientists thinkit was caused by the weeks-long eruption.
“In simple terms, Iceland is one big volcano," Thorvaldur Thordarson, professor of volcanology at the University of Iceland, told The Guardian.
What makes this eruption rare, other than the location, is how accessible it is.
“It’s very approachable, people can get reasonably close and still be safe,” said Thordarson.
More than 45,000 people have flocked to the remote site to see the rare volcanic eruption among the snow and ice.
He says this eruption is "very quiet," with a low probability of a big explosion. Rather, the lava just continues to flow.
Thordarson thinks the volcano could continue "for some time, maybe years, but there is no guarantee."
